We have finally had some sunny weather which has enabled us to turn out most of the cattle and finish planting potatoes (6 weeks later than 2012).  However, the cold wind is holding back growth – with some autumn crops looking dubious and I am considering re-ploughing/re-drilling but the clock is ticking on.  The ‘patched’ […]

Spring is officially here but we will have to wait a while before we can get going with field work.  The recent cold dry spell has enabled us to ‘patch’ winter cereal fields which suffered during the extremely wet autumn/winter but it’s still too cold for the grass to start growing. Calving is keeping us […]

At the end of January a selection of pedigree bulls and heifers were scanned by Signet for muscle/fat depth to enhance our recording figures.  I find this a useful exercise but am unsure if the additional expense is worthwhile. One event which we all dread – the annual TB Test … We were delighted to […]

Happy New Year to you all – shhh, it hasn’t rained for a week but we don’t want to get too excited too quick. We have been busy ‘fluking’ all cows and weighing pedigree cattle for the Signet Beefbreeder records.  The autumn weaned / finishing cattle seem to have taken a long time to get […]

I had a very successful trip to the British Limousin Society’s Autumn Show & Sale at Brecon on 10th November with KILLERTON GERALD.  This May 2011 born bull was Overall Supreme Champion and sold for the top sale price to Richard Jones, Montgomery, Powys.  The full sale report was published in the Farmers Guardian www.farmersguardian.com/shows-and-sales/brecon-limousins-sell-to-8900gns/51250.article […]

Rain, Rain and even more RAIN ….. Never before have we all been so challenged and ‘cheesed off’. The final straw was just under 90 mm rain in the past week. The recent deluge has forced us to wean calves one month earlier than usual as our river meadows have been flooded weekly for the […]

I joined the SW Limousin Club on a very successful 4-day tour of limousin herds in Ireland during mid July.  We visited a number of farms and were fortunate to see outstanding cattle looking in top condition.  Hospitality was second to none and we all returned to our farms (depressed) with ideas on new blood […]

Despite yet more unseasonal weather I have just returned from a successful (and enjoyable) Royal Cornwall Show.  Driving rain and gale force wind on the opening day made showing difficult but I was delighted to win Male / Breed Champion with Kaprico Donato.  He went forward to the Interbreed classes on Friday morning where he […]

A month is a long time when looking at English weather!  Last month we were worrying about drought problems then the heavens opened… over 100mls rain fell in East Devon during the last week of April causing widespread flooding to many areas.   We had to bring most cows and spring born calves back in as […]

We took full advantage of the dry weather in March and raced through the task of planting potatoes, with 40 hectares of Maris Piper, Marfona and Estima in the ground by 31st March.  Lets hope we don’t pay the price with late frost / drought conditions – there is already talk in the news of […]

  The busiest month of the year for calving both pedigree and commercial cows at Columbjohn – and naturally the sun shines so there is a mountain of field work calling attention at the same time. Matthew remains close to the farm to keep an eye on the cows in the calving paddocks but as […]

  With the shoot season behind me and a brief holiday to visit my daughter in British Columbia I can find no more excuses to avoid starting a regular Blog on my Website – and to avoid upsetting my very patient web designer at “Cumbrian Web” any further. I calve the pedigree limousins throughout the […]